Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 14 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $17,874/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Hoover
Hoover, AL
Pros
78% less violent crime than Charleston
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,874 more per year on average
Homes cost $73k less ($366,200 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $165/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,517)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$17,874
$101,765 vs $83,891/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
78% lower
78.0 vs 357.6 per 100k
Hoover
Median Home Value
$73k less
$366,200 vs $438,900
Hoover
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $366,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 3.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 54.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 9 and Hoover wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Charleston to Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $366,200 median home), income ($83,891 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Hoover, AL are about 397 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.